Gukesh vs Praggnanandhaa Ends in Draw After Strategic Mind Games at Tata Steel Chess

India’s top grandmasters D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa played out a 33-move draw in Round 8 of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament on Sunday in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.

The highly anticipated clash between the two joint tournament leaders—alongside Nodirbek Abdusattarov of Uzbekistan—saw Praggnanandhaa with the white pieces. With Abdusattarov also drawing his game against Vladimir Fedoseev, all three players continue to share the top spot after eight rounds.

Early Mind Games and Opening Play

Praggnanandhaa began the game with a psychological tactic, waiting nearly a full minute before playing 1.e4, the most common opening move. The game soon transitioned into a Ruy Lopez, with Gukesh opting for the Berlin Defense. However, Praggnanandhaa steered away from the main Berlin lines by playing 4.d3 (Anti-Berlin).

Both players blitzed out their first six moves, after which Praggnanandhaa unexpectedly left his chair—an unusual move so early in the game, where opening sequences are typically pre-planned.

A Brief Spark Before a Mutually Accepted Draw

The game remained balanced until move 23, when Gukesh advanced his pawn (23… a3?!)—a move the engine deemed inaccurate, preferring 23… Rd8 instead. This decision triggered a rapid exchange of pieces, leading to a simplified position.

By the time the draw was agreed upon, both players had six pawns and a rook each. While Gukesh had a bishop, Praggnanandhaa held a knight. Recognizing that neither side had winning chances, they conserved energy and settled for a draw.

All Indian Players Settle for Draws in Round 8

Round 8, which came just before the tournament’s second rest day, saw all five Indian grandmasters in the Masters section agreeing to draws.
• Arjun Erigaisi, India’s top-ranked player, settled for a draw against Serbian GM Alexey Sarana in just 23 moves, despite having the white pieces.
• Erigaisi has struggled at Tata Steel, losing 30 rating points in eight rounds and extending his winless streak in the Masters section to 21 games.
• After winning the Challengers section in 2022, Erigaisi earned a spot in the Masters section in 2023, but is yet to secure a victory in this elite event.

With five rounds remaining, the battle for the Tata Steel Chess title remains wide open, with Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Abdusattarov still in the lead.